Vibrator mechanism for bag filling and closing machine



Aug. 14, 1956 T. E. PzAzzE 2,758,767

VIBRATOR MECHANISM FOR BAG FILLING AND CLOSING MACHINE Original FiledMarch 12, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 6d /2 a 4 I K] 2 ';/W 23 24 125 62 fl/JNVENTOR? BY WM 9* M T. E. PIAZZE 2,758,767

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 14, 1956 VIBRATOR MECHANISM FOR BAG FILLING ANDCLOSING MACHINE Original Filed March 12, 1949 IN V EN TOR.

United States Patent VIBRATOR MECHANISM FOR BAG FILLING AND CLOSINGMACHINE Thomas E. Piazze, Mount Vernon, Ohio, assignor, by mesneassignments, to Continental Can Company, Inc., New York, N. Y., acorporation of New York Original application March 12, 1949, Serial No.81,154,

now Patent No. 2,676,443, dated April 27, 1954. Divided and thisapplication May 25, 1953', Serial No. 357,152

9 Claims. (Cl. 226-72) This invention relates to mechanism for forming acontainer from pliable sheet material, for filling the container withmerchandise and for closing and sealing the container and is moreparticularly concerned with improvements in a vibrator device adapted tobe incorporated in the mechanism to settle the merchandise in thecontainer while it is being filled.

The application is a division of copending application Serial No.81,154, filed March 12, 1949, now Patent No. 2,676,443, dated April 27,1954.

It is an object of the invention to provide in a machine having aconveyor provided with pocket forming mandrels for receiving successiveopened-top tubular containers of pliable material from a containerfabricating machine and means for intermittently moving the conveyor toposition the containers at successive stations for filling, closing, andsealing the containers, a vibrator mechanism associated with theconveyor at the filling station and operative on the mandrels while theyare stopped beneath the filling mechanism for vibrating the containerspositioned therein during the filling operation to settle themerchandise with which the container is be: ing filled.

It is another object of the invention to provide in a machine of thetype described wherein mechandise containers are carried on a conveyorto a filling station and positioned beneath the filling apparatus forreceiving a charge of merchandise therein, a vibrator mechanism whichcomprises a frame pivotally mounted adjacent the filling station of themachine and having the free end thereof slidably connected with theconveyor in which the containers are carried, an independently drivenrotatable shaft mounted at the free end of the vibrator frame and havingweight means thereon which upon rotation of the shaft vibrates theframe.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from aconsideration of the mechanism which is shown by way of illustration inthe accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a portion of a filling and closing machineextending beneath a filling mechanism and having a vibrator mechanismincorporated therein which embodies the principal features of theinvention and which is operative to vibrate the conveyor on which thecontainers are positioned;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation, to an enlarged scale, of the mechanism shownin Fig. 1 taken on the opposite side 2,758,767 Patented Aug. 14, 1956Fig. 6 is a detail section taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Referring to the drawings, there is illustrated a portion of a machinefor filling and closing a container which extends beneath a fillingfunnel or charge measuring device, the latter being adapted to depositin the container, when it is positioned beneath the same, a charge ofmerchandise. The filling and closing machine comprises upright framemembers 12 and 13 at the upper edges of which longitudinally extendingside frame bars 16 and 17 are supported in transversely spaced relation.A mandrel carrying conveyor which comprises spaced side chains 23 issupported on sprockets 24 which are secured in transversely spacedrelation on transverse shaft 26. The shaft 26 is journaled in the sideframe members 12 and 13 at one end thereof. It carries at one end gear52 which is connected in driving relation with gear 58 on the end of thetransverse drive shaft 59. Shaft 59 carries at the other or far side ofthe machine in Fig. 1 the driven element 60 of a Geneva mechanism. Thedriving element 61 is mounted on the transverse shaft 62 which isconnected by gears 63 and 64 with drive shaft 65, the latter beingconnected with a source of power, as shown in parent application SerialNo. 81,154. The conveyor chains 23 carry spaced pairs of cross rods 29which support a plurality of container supporting mandrels 30 formovement along the longitudinal center line of the machine.

The container carrying and supporting conveyor is intermittentlyoperated by the drive mechanism described in such a manner that it willbring the mandrels 30 successively to a point at the receiving end ofthe machine where :an empty container is deposited in the pocket formingmembers 55 of the mandrel and thereafter to a filling station where thecontainer is upright with the open end of the container beneath a chargemeasuring and filling mechanism indicated at 98. The drive mechanism isdescribed in detail in the parent application Serial No. 81,154.

The vibrating mechanism which operates on the mandrel 30 through themandrel carrying cross bars 29 and carrying chains 23 while thecontainer is being filled comprises a pair of channel-shaped sidemembers each provided with an inwardly directed recess 101 through whichthe chains 23 travel. The recess 101 is approximately the same width ordepth as the rollers 102 which are provided on the end of the mandrelcarrying cross bars 29. The channel-shaped members 100 are mounted onthe forward ends 103 of laterally spaced side frame members 104 of avibrating frame. The side frame members 104 are pivotally mounted at therearward end on a transverse drive shaft 105.

The drive shaft 105 extends transversely of the ma 1 extending outwardlyof main frame member 12. The

ranged on opposite sides of the frame.

shaft 108 is provided with a pulley 109 which is con nected by asuitable belt 110 with a continuously operating motor supported on themain frame of the machine as shown in application Serial No. 81,154.

A friction pulley 112 is mounted on the shaft 105 and is connected bymeans of a belt 113 with :a pulley 114 secured on a cross shaft 115which is journaled between the side frame members 104 of the vibratingframe adjacent the forward end thereof. The shaft 115 is provided withpairs of oppositely disposed weights 116 ar- Rotation of the shaft 115causes the frame to be vibrated by the action of centrifugal force onthe revolving weights 116. The side arms 104 being pivoted about theshaft 105 cause the members 100 to vibrate in the vertical direction.

A limited movement of each of the members 100 is permitted within thespace provided between a lower bumper plate 117 on the cross framemember 92 and an adjustable upper bumper member 118. Each of the bumpermembers 118 is mounted on the bottom end of an adjustable threaded post119 depending from the end of a supporting arm 120. The arms 1% arepivotally mounted on pins 121 which are journaled in blocks 122 andattached to the main frame members 16' and 17, respectively. Each arm120 is provided with an integral depending arm 123 (Fig. 3) pivotallyconnected at 124 to .a link 125 which extends longitudinally of themachine. The links 125 are pivotally connected at the other end at 126to arms 127 which are secured to the transversely extending shaft 128.The shaft 128 is journaled in the side frame members 12 and 13 with oneend extending at the rear side of the machine and provided with an arm129. The arm 129 carries at its free end a downwardly projecting pin 130engaging in an aperture 131 in a projecting bracket 132 attached to theside frame member 13 and carrying a compression spring 133 tending tourge the arm 12.9 in the upward direction. The arm 129 is limited in itsupward movement by a stop pin 134 which is adjustably mounted in bracket13S secured on the frame member 13. The shaft 128 is extended at itsother end (Fig. 2) and provided with an arm 136 carrying on its free enda cam roller 137 which engages a cam 138 on the driven shaft 139, thelatter being driven from the drive shaft 65 by appropriate gearing (notshown).

Configuration of the cam 138 is such that the vibrating mechanism ispermitted to operate on the container receiving mandrel 30 at thefilling station during the time which the container is being filled withthe commodity and for a short interval thereafter. When the cam roller137 is resting on the high point of the cam 138 the arm 136 positionsthe shaft 128 to hold the upper bumper members 118 in lowered positionthrough the connecting arms 127, links 125 and arms 123 and 120. Whenheld in the lowered position the upper bumpers 118 in turn hold the sidemembers 100 against the lower bumpers 117 (Fig. 6) and prevent theirmovement. When the cam roller 137 is resting on the low point of the cam138 the upper bumper members 118 are held in a raised position byoperation of the spring 133 operating on the arm 129 and the sidemembers 100 are freed for a limited vertical movement between thebumpers 1'17 and 118. The shaft 115 is constantly rotated by the drivebelts 110 and 113 which connect with the driving motor and the sidemembers 100, when they are free to move, are vibrated by the action ofthe centrifugal force on the rapidly rotating counterweights 116. Theadjustable posts 119 which carry the upper bumper members 118 permitadjustment on both sides of the machine to insure that both members 100are permitted to vibrate the same amount. The stop pin member 134 isadjustable to control the swing of the vibrator frame by varying in asingle operation the space between the upper bumper members 118 and thelower bumper members 117. The stop member 134 is located outside themain frame of the machine where it is readily accessible for adjustmentwhile the machine is in operation.

I claim:

1. In a container filling machine, a supporting frame, an endlessconveyor, a plurality of pocketed mandrels mounted on said conveyor,means for moving said conveyor to position said mandrels successively ata filling station beneath a filling device, a vibrator frame pivotallymounted at one end in said supporting frame, said vibrator frame havinga free end with a portion thereof extending beneath the conveyor at thefilling station, means adjustably connecting the free end of thevibrator a; frame with the conveyor when a mandrel thereon is beneathsaid filling device, a transverse shaft journaled on the free end ofsaid vibrator frame, an independent driving mechanism having a drivingconnection with said shaft for rotating said shaft, and means on saidshaft for vibrating said frame about its pivot point upon rotation ofsaid shaft.

2. In a container filling machine, a supporting frame, a movableconveyor, a pocketed mandrel mounted on said conveyor, means to movesaid conveyor to position said mandrel beneath a filling device, avibrator device pivotally mounted at one end in said supporting framewith its other end extending beneath the mandrel when the mandrel ispositioned beneath the filling device, means slidably connecting saidend of the vibrator device with the conveyor, a shaft rotatably carriedby the vibrator device adjacent said end, counterweight mechanismmounted on said shaft, and independent driving means for rotating saidshaft and said counterweight mechanism to vibrate said vibrator deviceabout its pivot point.

3. In a container filling machine, a supporting frame, an endlessconveyor, pocketed mandrels mounted on said conveyor, means to operatesaid conveyor to position the mandrels successively beneath a fillingdevice, a generally rectangular vibrator frame pivotally mounted at oneend on said supporting frame With its other end extending beneathsuccessive mandrels positioned beneath the filling device, channel meansslidably connecting the free end of the vibrator frame with theconveyor, a pair of transverse shafts journaled in opposite ends of saidvibrator frame, an independent driving mechanism for rotating saidshafts, and means on the shaft at the free end of said vibrator framefor vibrating said frame about its pivot point upon rotation of saidshafts.

4. In a container filling machine comprising a supporting frame havingan endless conveyor mounted thereon, a plurality of pocketed mandrelsmounted in spaced relation on said conveyor, means for operating saidconveyor to position the mandrels successively at a filling station, anda vibrating mechanism mounted on said frame beneath said conveyoradjacent the filling station, said vibrating mechanism comprising apivoted frame, channel members on said pivoted frame engaging portionsof the conveyor, a rotatable shaft on the free end of said pivotedframe, eccentric weights mounted on said shaft, and means forindependently operating said vibrating mechanism.

5. In a container filling machine, a supporting frame, an endlessconveyor mounted thereon, a plurality of pocketed mandrels mounted inspaced relation on said conveyor, means for operating said conveyor toposition the mandrels successively at a filling station, a vibratingmechanism mounted on said frame beneath said conveyor, said vibratingmechanism comprising side members pivoted at one end to said supportingframe, channel members on said side members receiving in slidingrelation therein side portions of the conveyor, a rotatable shaft on thefree end of said side members, weights eccentrically mounted on saidshaft, and means for rotating said shaft independently of the operationof said conveyor.

6. In a container filling machine as recited in claim 5 and adjustablemeans for controlling the movement of said vibrating mechanism.

7. In a container filling machine as recited in claim 5 and cam operatedmeans for controlling the movement of said vibrating mechanism.

8. In a container filling machine comprising a supporting frame, anendless conveyor having laterally spaced side members mounted. on saidframe, a plurality of pocketed mandrels mounted in longitudinally spacedrelation on said conveyor, means for operating said conveyor to positionsaid mandrels successively at a filling station, a vibrating mechanismpivotally mounted on said frame beneath said conveyor, said vibratingmechanism having channel members encompassing the side members anismwhereby said vibrating mechanism is operated in of the conveyor, arotatable shaft on said vibrating mechtimed relation to the movement ofsaid conveyor. anism in spaced relation to its Pivotal mounting, eccen-References Cited in the file of this patent tric weights mounted on saidshaft, means for continuously rotating said shaft to reciprocate saidvibrating 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS mechanism, and adjustable means forlimiting the re- 767,393 Doble Aug. 16, 1904 ciprocating movement ofsaid vibrating mechanism. 1,826,926 Cundall Oct. 13, 1931 9. In acontainer filling mechanism as recited in claim 2,494,584 Rouse J an.17, 1950 8 and adjustable control means for said vibrating mech- 12,581,795 Howard Jan. 8, 1952

